History

Home to thinkers, leaders, and innovators for nearly 200 years

In the beginning of Indiana University, there was the College of Arts and Sciences.

It wasn’t called the College yet—and back then, in 1820, IU wasn’t called IU yet either. But from the start, the liberal arts were the institution’s central focus.

The liberal arts and sciences are still the backbone of an IU education, and the College has been home to some of IU’s greatest discoveries, most innovative programs, and most accomplished faculty, students, and alumni. But we’re not content with having a rich tradition. The past inspires us as we shape the future.

Here are some ways the College of Arts and Sciences has influenced IU, the state, and the world.

Becoming the first female Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences

For her analysis of economic governance, Distinguished Professor of Political Science Elinor Ostrom won the Nobel Prize in 2009. Ostrom, a political theorist, defied traditional understanding by showing how local property can be successfully managed by local commons without privatization or governance by central authorities.

Saving lives + transforming medicine

Creating the first rapid-acting insulin analog

Chemistry professor Richard DiMarchi began his career at Eli Lilly and Company, where he led the discovery and development of the rDNA-derived Humalog.

Discovering a cure for testicular cancer

College alumnus and IU School of Medicine professor Lawrence Einhorn developed a treatment that raised the survival rate from 5 percent to 95 percent.

Developing the formula for Crest

IU scientists Joseph Muhler, William Nebergall, and Harry Day filed a patent for a toothpaste that used stannous fluoride and a calcium pyrophosphate abrasive. Procter & Gamble later named it Crest. First sold nationally in 1956, the toothpaste revolutionized dental care.

Educating and entertaining people worldwide

Reducing the stigma around mental illness

Professor Bernice Pescosolido researches stigma and helps lead the College Toolbox Project, which aims to change attitudes about mental illness.

Editing the New York Times crossword puzzle

Puzzle master and College alum Will Shortz holds the world’s only college degree in enigmatology, which he designed through the Individualized Major Program.

Writing the Hunger Games trilogy

Before writing Katniss’s adventures, Suzanne Collins graduated with distinction from the College, double majoring in telecommunications and in theatre and drama.

Legitimizing the study of human sexuality

Zoologist Alfred Kinsey and his colleagues interviewed almost 18,000 people about their sexual histories. They published two bestsellers, Sexual Behavior in the Human Male (1948) and Sexual Behavior in the Human Female (1953). Today, IU’s Kinsey Institute advances sexual health and knowledge worldwide.

Leading nations and securing people’s rights

Chairing the 9/11 Commission

IU alum and former U.S. Representative Lee Hamilton is a distinguished scholar at the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies.

Leading the Republic of Ireland

Elected in 2011, Michael Higgins earned a master’s degree in sociology from IU and has long championed human rights.

Helping draft Iraq’s first constitution

Now an IU professor, Feisal Istrabadi studied chemistry and law at IU and was Iraq’s United Nations ambassador.

Pioneering the modern College of Arts + Sciences

Iconic IU president Herman B Wells is credited with elevating the university’s stature in research, the arts, and international studies. A College of Arts and Sciences alumnus, he devoted his life to IU and was one of the great leaders in higher education.